Internal-combustion engine



1. R soon.

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE. APPLICAH'ON FILED JUNE 19. 1918.

1,323,414; Patented Dec. 2,1919.

\nvencor. Jacob Ruperc Scott by 5W1! \f'T/Mmmi Accys.

J. R. SCOTT.

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 19. I918.

1 32 3,4 1 4 o Patented Dec. 2, 1919.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

Fig. 8.1

lnvenior. Jacob Rupert Scoic by Haw! swim/Wm: Afiys.

J. R. SCOTT, INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 19. I918.

' Patented. Dec. 2,1919.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3 \nvenior. Jacob Rupert Scott byflfianoz SMZZZ. Aitysf UNITED STATES PATENT orrron JACOB RUPERT SCOTT, OF NORTH WEYMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF TWO TENTHS TO EDWARD H. KAVANAGH AND TWO-TENTHS TO JAMES W. COLGANQ BOTH OF WEYMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS.

INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 19, 1918. Serial No. 240,833.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JACOB RUPERT Soon, a citizen of the United States, andv resident of North "Weymouth, county of Norfolk, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Internal-Combustion Engines, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is "a specification, like characters on thedrawing representing likeparts.

This invention relates to improvements in internal combustion engines and the object. thereof is to provide means for increasing the efficiency of the engine, thereby reducing the fuel consumption.

In the course of making experiments I discoveredthat where a small amount of liquid hydrocarbon is spread upon a surface such as the bottom of a cup and is subjected to a blast of air and immediately igniteda much more violent explosion takes place than if a greater amount of fluid is exposed to a relatively slow moving current of air. The present invention comprises the adaptation of the fuel supplying means of an internal combustion engine to obtaina like advantagewhereby the power of the engine is derived from use of a maximum amount of air with a minimum amount of fuel.

Another object of the invention is to pro- .vide means for increasing the air supply to the cylinder of the engineabove that which is normally used thereby to obtain, a greater degree of compression. and consequently more power from the engine.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for projecting a blast of heated air upon the liquid fuel in the mixing chamber of the fuel feeding mechanism whereby the rapidity of volatilization of the liquid fuel will be increased. This preferably is accomplished by projecting a vortical current of air upon the liquid fuel thereby .obtaining a maximum circulation andrapidity of-vaporization.

4 Another feature of the invention consists in providing adjustable lneansfor venting the conduit which delivers the vortical blast of air upon the liquid fuel in the carbureter whereby impurities will be centrifugally discharged before entering the mixing chamber.

Another important object of the inven tion is to provide means for regulating the engine by controlling the blast of air which is projected upon the liquid fuel in the mixing chamber while maintaining a uniform supply ofliquid fuel to said chamber.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for closing the supply of liquid fuel to the mixing chamber upon the opening of the throttle to its full width or to a predetermined width whereby a maximum degree of braking power will be obtained from the compression of the engine when the same is running idly as for example in an automobile engine when coasting down hill.

' Another object of the invention is to pro vide a novel means for supplying heated fuel and heated air to the mixing chamber of the engine to further increase the efficiency thereof.

Other objects and features of the invention will more fully appear from the following description and the accompanying drawings and will'be pointed out in the annexed claims.

In the drawings, 7

Figure 1 isa side elevation of a typical internal combustion engine having my invention applied thereto,

Fig. 2 is a detail side elevation of the mechanism for heating the liquid fuel and also for heating the air which is supplied to the mixing chamber,

.Fig. 3 is a plan view of the carbureting in the-body of the engine but it will be understood that my invention may be applied to the intake of any type of engine whether for a single cylinder or to the manifold which supplies a plurality of cylinders with an explosive mixture.

In the embodiment of the invention lllustrated 1n the drawing the engine 1 1s provided with the usual complement'of cylinders and pistons not shown and means for driving a fan 2 through the pulley 3 by a belt, not shown, from any suitable mechanism. In this type of engine in which the manifold is within the engine casing the carbureting devices comprise a tubular casting 4 having a flange 5 which is bolted directly to the side of the engine casting so that said tubular castin communicates with the intake of the engine. This casting may be provided with a lateral extension to form the usual float reservoir 6 of the carbureter and also with a chamber 7 leading to the usual mixing chamber 8, the bottom of which is substantially fiat and provides a reservoir which is adapted to expose a relatively large area of the liquid fuel to the action of the vaporizing current of air.

The casting may be so formed by suitable coring as to provide a passage 9 leading from the float chamber 6 beneath the mixing chamber 8 and communicating therewith by a tapered port 10 adapted to receive a needle valve 11 which preferably is normally held seated by a spring 12 bearing at its lower end upon a collar 13 rigidly secured to the stem of the needle valve and atits upper end upon a screw threaded bushing 14 carried by a nut 15 fitting the upper wall 16 of the mixing chamber. The bushing 14 desirably is provided with an angular upward extension 17 upon which is fitted a keeper- 18 having a spring pressed arm 19 engaging a serratedflange 20 on the nut 15.-

The upper portion of the valve stem is provided with screw threads 21 which are engaged by a knurled nut 22 which is held between the arms23, 24 of a sleeve 25 which is normally held down upon the keeper 18 by the spring 12 which surrounds the stem of the valve 11.

It will be obvious that when the valve is seated as illustrated in Fig. 4 none of the liquid fuel contained in the float chamber 6 of the carbureting mechanism can flow from the passage 9 into the mixing chamber 8 but when the valve is raised a predetermined amount of fiuid may be permitted to flow from the passage 9 into the mixing chamber 8, consequently the amount of fluid thus supplied may be accurately regulated by rotating a knurled nut 22.

In usual types of engines the amount of fuel thus supplied to the mixing chamberof the carbureting mechanism is varied in accordance with the demands of the engine by raising and lowering the needle valve as the throttle is opened or closed, a greater amount of fuel being supplied when the throttle is open than when closed.

My invention is designed to maintain a uniform or constant supply of liquid fuel irrespective of the amount to which the throttle is opened, the amount of air introduced into the mixing chamber being varied according to the demands of the engine so that the combustion chambers or cylinders of the engine will always be supplied with substantially the same amount of hydrocarbon, whereas the amount of air intro duced in each charge may be controlled to vary the power of the engine.

In order to accomplish this purpose I provide the usual throttle which governs the amount of explosive mixture introduced into the combustion chamber with a novel means for actuating the needle valve which governs the supply of liquid fuel to the fuel chamber, said mechanism being so constructed that .no movement of the needle valve will occur during the opening or closing of the throttle so long as it is desired to supply fuel to the mixing chamber..

In the preferred embodiment of the invention disclosed herein the tubular casting 4 is provided with the usual throttle valve 26 which is carried upon a stem or shaft 27 extending across and rotatably mounted in the tubular casting 4 adjacent to the intake of the engine.

.The shaft 27 is provided with the usual arm 28 which is connected to a link 29 leading to the lever or accelerator for governing the speed of the engine. The opposite end of the shaft 27- has connected to it a segment 30 having a face 31 concentric with the axis of the shaft 27 adapted to engage a roller 32 upon the free end of a bell crank lever 33 which is pivotally mounted upon a stud 34, the other arm 35 of said lever having a forked or bifurcated end 36 preferably provided-witha crowned surface 37 which engages the under face of a shoulder upon the sleeve 25 through which the stem of the valve 11 projects.

The concentric face 31 of the sector is provided with a depression 38 to receive the roller 32 of the bell crank 33 preferably when the throttle is in horizontal position illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 4 so that the valve 11 may be forced firmly upon its seat throttle to its fullest extent will provide the greatest amount of braking power which can'be obtained from the engine alone.

The improvements thus described may be easily embodied in engines of well known types without material modification of the In order further to reduce the fuel consumption and more greatly increase the efficiency of the engine my invention contemplates the provision of means for introducing into the mixing chamber a current, preferably in the form of a blast of .air. having a vortical movement. In the preferred mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings this is accomplished by providing a tube 39 preferably having spiral walls such as are provided by spirally wound flexible tubing. The tube 39 has a bell shaped mouth 40 provided with a screen 41 located in proximity to the fan 2, which is located immediately back of the radiator '2" and which draws a current of air through said radiator. The opposite end of the spiral tube 39 is connected to and communicates with an upward tubular extension 42 of the casting 4. This tubular extension may be made integral with the tubular casting 4 but preferably is in the form of an elbow having screw threaded connection with it.

The tubular extension 42 has located in it a valve 43 of the butterfly type which is mounted upon a shaft 4-1 and is operated by an arm 45, connected to a link 46 which leads to a suitable controlling lever, which may be located upon the dash or instrument board of an automobile. By reason of this construction a regulated blast of air is projected by the fan through the tube 39 into the mixing chamber 8 where it impinges upon the surface of the liquid fuel which is delivered through the port 10 which is con trolled by the needle valve 11.

The air thus forced by the fan into the tube assumes a rotary movement which is augmented by the spiral path formed by the {wall of the tube 39 so that the blast which is projected upon the liquid fuel in the mixing chamber has a distinct vortical movement.

The spiral or vertical movement of the air through the tube 39 has a tendency to throw impurities and noxious products centrifugally and means are provided whereby such impurities may be discharged so that the air entering the mixing chamber will be pure and its oxygen content of the highest order.

To accomplish this purpose a series of apertures 47 are provided in the tubular extension 42 in proximity to the end at which the tube 39 enters the same and means are provided for regulating the size of these apertures to obtain the most effective result.

A preferred means comprises a sleeve- 48 having apertures 49 corresponding in size to the apertures 47 and adapted to be superand slot connection 50, 51.

posed upon them. The sleeve 48 is rotatably adjustable'upon the extension 42 and is maintained in adjusted position by a screw I have found that by varying the effective SlZQ, of these apertures suitable regulation may be ob-.

tained for different atmosphericconditions. It will be noted that the vortlcal blast of air which is thus delivered to the mixing chamber has been heated by its contact with the radiator or radiating surface of the engine so that the vaporization of the liquid of the fluid in the mixing chamber is facilitated.

By regulating the amount of air thus delivered to the' mixing chamber a much greater efficiency in.the engine is obtained than is usual, for the amount of hydrocarbon supplied to each cylinder upon each 'stroke is substantially the same, the amount .of air supplied with it being varied according to the running conditions or demands of the engine. a

In the usual operation of internal combustion engines the explosive mixture is drawn into the fuel by the suction of the engine and consequently is in a more or less rarefied condition when the admission ports of the engine cylinder or cylinders are closed.

'By my invention the charge is not merely power developedas a result of the explosion,

of the charge.

This construction also has the effect of increasing the braking force of the engine for when the throttle is wide open as illustrated in Fig. 4 andthe supply of liquid fuel cut off air is forced into the cylinders of the engine so that a greater compression is obtained than would be the case if the air was merely drawn in by the suction of the piston.

In order further to increase the efliciency of the engine I have provided means for heating the liquid fuel which is delivered to the mixing chamber and also for providing a limited supply of heated air to the carbureting mechanism independent of that which is forced into the mixing chamber by the fan. The means for heating the liquid fuel comprises a reservoir 52 having concentric outer and inner walls leaving a hollow space 53i-ert'ically through the center thereof. The bottom of this reservoir is provided with an annular flange 54 which desirably is bolted to the exhaust manifold tion of the chamber 57 delivers the heated liquid fuel into the float chamber 6 of the carbureter.

The reservoir 52 is normally hermetically sealed after having been partially filled so that as liquid fuel is exhausted from it to supply the float chamber of the carbureter an equal amount of fuel will be delivered to it through the pipe 59 from the main tank. It consequently follows that a substantially uniform amount of fuel will be maintained at all times within the reservoir. The reservoir 52 may be made of any suitable dimensions but. referably is of such size as to retain a su cient quantity of fuel to enable the same to be well heated.

While the heated air delivered by the fan to the mixing chamber is suflicient under ordinary conditions I have found it advisable in order to increase the economy of the engine to provide means for supplying a limited amount of more highly heated air to the mixing chamber. A convenient means of accomplishing this purpose .consists in connecting a pipe 61 with the hollow interior 53 of the reservoir 52 and leading the same into the elbow of the tubularextension 42 so that the air entering through this tube is delivered substantially directly upon the liquid fuel in the mixing chamber.

In the operation of the engine, if the butterfly valve 43 is closed, a suflicient amount of air will be supplied through the pipe 61 to permit the idling of the engine, whereas if a greater amount of power is desired it may be obtained by opening the butterfly valve 43 to a greater extent, thereby increasing the supply of air to the engine.

By reason of my invention not only is complete combustion of the hydrocarbon content of the explosive mixture always insured but a greater degree of compression is obtained at each stroke of the engine and an increased amount of power thereby obtained.

It will be understood that the embodiment of the invention illustrated herein is of an illustrative character and is not restrictive and that various modifications may be made within the meaning andscope of the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new. and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with an internal combustion engine comprising a combustion chamber, and a mixing chamber having a substantially flat bottom'adapted to expose relatively large surface of fuel to the action of a vaporizing current of air, means for delivering fuel to said mixing chamber, means for projecting a vortical current of air upon t e liquid fuel in said mixing chamber and means for delivering the explosive mixture formed thereby to the combustion chamber of the engine.

2. In combination with an internal combustion engine comprising a combustion chamber, a mixing chamber having a substantially flat bottom adapted to expose relatively, large surface of fuel to the action of a vaporizing current of air, means for delivering a uniformly restricted supply of liquid fuel to said mixing chamber at all speeds of the engine, means for supplying air under pressure to said mixing chamber and means for controlling the amount of explosive mixture delivered from said mixing chamber to the combustion chamber of the engine.

3. In combination with an internal combustion engine comprising a cylinder and a piston reciprocable therein, means for cooling said cylinder including a radiator and a fan operated by the engine to draw air through said radiator; a mixing chamber having a substantially flat bottom adapted to expose a relatively large surface of fuel to the action of the vaporizing current of air, means for delivering a uniformly restricted supply of liquid fuel to said mixing chamber at all speeds of the engine, means for projecting a blast of air from said fan upon the liquid fuel in said mixing chamber and means for delivering the mixture formed thereby to said cylinder.

4. Fuel feeding mechanism for internal combustion engines having a radiator and a fan operated by the engine to draw air through said radiator; a mixing chamber having a substantially flat bottom adapted to expose a relatively large surface of fuel to the action of a vaporizing current of air, means for delivering a uniformly restricted supply of fuel to said mixing chamber at all speeds of the engine. means for projecting a blast of'air from said fan upon the surface of the liquid fuel in said mixing chamber comprising a pipe having a spiral wall and a bell-shaped mouth located adjacent said fan and leading to said mixing chamber whereby said blast of air will have a vertical movement and means for delivering the explosive mixture from the mixing chamber to said cylinder.

5. Fuel feeding mechanism for internal combustion engines having a radiator and a fan operated by the engine to draw air into said radiator; comprisin amixin chaming said spiral pipe adjacent its connection I 3 a ber, means for delivering iqnid fue to said 'to sand mixmg chamber andmeansfor conmixing chamber, means for projecting a trolling the amount'of air supplied to the 10 blast vof air from said fan upon the liquid mixing chamber.

5 fuel in said mixing chamber comprising a 1 In testimony whereof, I have signed my pipe having spiral walls leading to said name tothisspeoification. 4 mixing chamber, adjustable means for 'vent- JACOB 

